Conservation and Development of Cultural and historical towns in Tamilnadu - Preparation of Blue Print - Orders - Issued

What the government ordered

G.O.Ms.163 dated 6th July 1993, issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, establishes a programme for conserving and developing selected cultural and historical towns. The programme responds to environmental deterioration, worsening sanitation and unplanned urban growth around heritage places.

The operative directions are:

• The 23 places listed in the annexure are to be declared Heritage Towns.
• The Director of Town and Country Planning is the nodal agency responsible for preparing their development plans.
• The Director of Town and Country Planning may appoint consultants and professionals to help prepare those plans.
• A Working Group is constituted to monitor preparation of action plans on a time-bound basis.
• The Director of Town and Country Planning must take follow-up action and report the action taken to the government.

Places covered

G.O.Ms.163 covers Kancheepuram, Chidambaram, Rameswaram, Srirangam, Srivilliputhur, Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Gangaikondacholapuram, Poompuhar, Madurai, Palani, Tiruchendur, Thiruthani, Kanyakumari, Thiruvannamalai, Gingee, Chettinad, Valinockam, Tranquebar (Tharangambadi), Nagore, Velankanni and Courtallam.

Planning priorities

The conservation and development programme envisages urban planning, town beautification, construction restrictions, congestion relief and new growth centres on peripheral land. It also identifies car parks, bus stands, communications, parks, lighting, water supply, underground sewerage, shopping arcades, handicraft outlets and other infrastructure as planning subjects.

Development plans are intended to improve environmental sanitation generally and particularly near temples, monuments, mosques, churches and archaeological places. The programme treats conservation as extending beyond individual monuments to the wider built-up area and living environment.

Relevance to property owners and buyers

Property buyers, owners and professionals dealing with land or buildings in any listed Heritage Town should be aware that the area was selected for development planning focused on conservation, sanitation, amenities and managed growth. G.O.Ms.163 identifies restriction of construction as a programme objective, but the supplied text does not set out plot-level restrictions, approval procedures, rates or fees. Any specific effect on a property would therefore need to be established from the applicable development plan or other relevant requirements.